F1 condemns racist abuse directed towards Hamilton on social media
Mercedes, Formula One and its governing body the FIA have issued a joint statement condemning the online racist abuse aimed at Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton,36,wastargetedfollowinghiscrashwithrivalmax Verstappen on the opening lap of Sunday's British Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion delivered a superb comeback drive to record his eighth win on home soil, while Verstappen was taken to hospital following the 190mph shunt which registered at 51G.
Red Bull said he was released from hospital at 10pm on Sunday "without major injuries".
The statement read: "During, and after, yesterday's British Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton was subjected to multiple instances of racist abuse on social media following an inrace collision.
"Formula One, The FIA and Mercedes-amg Petronas F1 Team condemn this behaviour in the strongest possible terms.
"Thesepeoplehavenoplacein oursportandweurgethatthose responsible should be held accountable for their actions.
"Formula One, the FIA, the driversandtheteamsareworking to build a more diverse and inclusive sport, and such unacceptable instances of online abuse must be highlighted and eliminated."
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said: "We have seen it in the football at the European Championship and the abuse is absolutely
not acceptable, and it is the same yesterday. I still question whether some just don't get it. This is not acceptable and we will react to it."
Hamilton was handed a tensecond penalty for the accident with Verstappen after the stewardsjudgedhimtobe"predominantly at fault".
The abuse came from a numberofcountriesandstartedduring Sunday's race in response to posts from both F1 and Mercedes' social media platforms.
Itisunderstoodthatf1iscompiling a dossier of the offensive postsandwillraisethemdirectlywiththeplatformsandcallon them to take stringent action.
Verstappen's Red Bull team also issued a statement criticising the attacks on Hamilton.
"While we may be fierce rivals on-track, we are all united against racism," the Milton Keynes team said.
"We condemn racist abuse of any kind towards our teams, our competitors and our fans.
"As a team we are disgusted and saddened to witness the racistabuselewisenduredyesterday on social media after the collisionwithmax.thereisneveranyexcuseforit.thereiscertainlynoplaceforitinoursport andthoseresponsibleshouldbe held accountable."
Oliver Dowden, the secretary of state for culture, media and sport,saidhewas"sicktodeath" of seeing racist abuse online.
In a series of tweets, Dowden wrote: "It's clear that this issue
isn't fixed as some companies have claimed. Once again we sawracistcommentsandemojisaimedatoursportsstarsthis weekend.
"I've been asked if the new Online Safety laws will make social media firms deal with abuse like this and I can confirmthatitwill.however,social media companies can and must act now. We're all sick to death of seeing the bile and the threats. It's time for platforms to turn the tide on racist abuse."